Achilles (Mythological character); Epic poetry, Greek -- Translations into English; Trojan War
So spake he, and bade yoke his horses, Fear and Dread, and himself did
on his shining harness. Thereby would yet a greater and more implacable
wrath and anger have been caused between Zeus and the Immortals, had
not Athene, in terror for the sake of all the gods, leaped out through
the doorway, and left the throne wherein she sat, and taken from Ares’
head the helmet, and the shield from his shoulders, and drawn the spear
of bronze from his stalwart hand, and set it apart, and then with words
she rebuked the impetuous Ares: “Mad that thou art, and distraught of
wit—this is thy bane! Verily thou hast ears and hearest not, and
perished have thine understanding and thine awe. Hearest thou not what
she saith, the white-armed goddess Hera, that even now is come from
Olympian Zeus? Dost thou wish both thyself to fill up the measure of
mischief and so return to Olympus ruefully, of necessity, and for all
the other gods to sow the seed of a great wrong? For straightway will
he leave the high-hearted Trojans and the Achaians, and to us will he
come to make tumult in Olympus: and he will clutch us each in turn, the
blameless with the guilty. Wherefore now again I bid thee to abate
thine anger for thy son, for already many a man stronger than he, and
more hardy of his hands, has fallen, or yet will fall; and a hard thing
it is to save the lineage and offspring of all men.”
So spake she, and made impetuous Ares sit down on his throne. But Hera
called Apollo without the hall and Iris, that is the messenger of the
immortal gods, and she spake winged words, and addressed them, saying:
“Zeus bids you go to Ida as swiftly as may be, and when ye have gone,
and looked on the face of Zeus, do ye whatsoever he shall order and
command.”
So spake she, and returned again, the lady Hera, and sat down on her
throne, and they flew forward speedily, and came to many-fountained
Ida, mother of wild beasts, and found far-seeing Zeus seated on topmost
Gargaros, and round him a fragrant cloud was circled like a crown. And
these twain came before the face of Zeus the cloud-gatherer, and stood
there, and he was no wise displeased at heart when he beheld them, for
that speedily they had obeyed the words of his dear wife. And to Iris
first he spake winged words: “Go, get thee, swift Iris, to the prince
Poseidon, and tell him all these things, nor be a false messenger.
Command him to cease from war and battle, and to go among the tribes of
the gods, or into the bright sea. But if he will not obey my words, but
will hold me in no regard, then let him consider in his heart and mind,
lest he dare not for all his strength to abide me when I come against
him, since I deem me to be far mightier than he, and elder born. But
this his heart feareth not,—to call himself the peer of me whom even
the other gods do hold in dread.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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